New Release Review: The Deep by Nick Cutter

Synopsis from Goodreads: From the acclaimed author of The Troop—which Stephen King raved “scared the hell out of me and I couldn’t put it down.…old-school horror at its best”—comes this utterly terrifying novel where The Abyss meets The Shining.

A strange plague called the ’Gets is decimating humanity on a global scale. It causes people to forget—small things at first, like where they left their keys…then the not-so-small things like how to drive, or the letters of the alphabet. Then their bodies forget how to function involuntarily…and there is no cure. But now, far below the surface of the Pacific Ocean, deep in the Marianas Trench, an heretofore unknown substance hailed as “ambrosia” has been discovered—a universal healer, from initial reports. It may just be the key to a universal cure. In order to study this phenomenon, a special research lab, the Trieste, has been built eight miles under the sea’s surface. But now the station is incommunicado, and it’s up to a brave few to descend through the lightless fathoms in hopes of unraveling the mysteries lurking at those crushing depths…and perhaps to encounter an evil blacker than anything one could possibly imagine.

AH’s Review – 5 Skulls – A

The Deep takes terror to a whole new level. The author takes our biggest fears and places them just in the periphery of our sight. It’s the shadows, the darkness, and the unknown that are the scariest. That, combined with an isolated (and rescue-free) setting 8 miles below sea level add to the claustrophobic feeling that further triggers terror. The fear is all encompassing: all around you AND inside your head. There is no refuge.

The Deep plays on the characters’ real-life experiences and finds those things that terrified them in childhood. It then takes those fears and amplifies them. Fear of bugs – check. Fear of overbearing parents – check. Fear of clowns – check. Fear of the monster under the bed – check. It’s not the monster that scares us – it’s the very thought of that monster that gives us the willies.

As I read The Deep, I found myself Googling various aspects of this book. Is it possible to dive 8 miles below sea level? Yes. Were the laboratory dogs really named after Russian space dogs? Yes. Is there such a thing as a Tickle Trunk? (Canadians of a certain age know that one). The research for the book was impeccable.

As for the writing, see how you feel after you read this quote:

This place repulses.

There is nothing to nourish the soul.

Nothing but man made angle and inert materials. Nothing is cut from nature, holding the supple appeal of objects that God has touched. God’s finger doesn’t reach down this far.

The Deep is a MUST READ for horror lovers. Nick Cutter has become a favorite author and an auto-buy choice for me. I’m so excited that a new book is planned for May 2015 – The Acolyte. I can’t wait!

Rating: ☠ ☠ ☠ ☠ ☠

Recommended for fans of Stephen King books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for a review copy of this book.